Capital Cleaning and Cleaning for a Reason

No, I didn't clean before they came.  :)

I'd heard about Cleaning for a Reason over the years.    It is a charity that partners with a cleaning company and will come help clean the house of somebody who is in active cancer treatment.  Back when I was first diagnosed and was doing my first round of chemo, I looked into it, but nobody in Sacramento was doing it.  At the time I thought chemo would end so I wasn't that disappointed, I knew I'd soon get my energy back and be able to do my normal Saturday cleaning.

Well, we know my story didn't turn out that way.

Three years of chemo and a few surgeries later, and my house is in full decline.  My husband and son are pretty good at keeping the bigger chunks picked up, but neither of them understand that windows need to be cleaned, baseboards need dusting, and counters and tables need wiping and both are in the "ew" category when I mention that the toilets need to be scrubbed.   As time goes by, I can do less and less, and I want to nag less and less.  It's not only my frozen shoulders and my painful stomach that keep me from cleaning things, but also my energy level.  I just can't get get physical in any way these days and the menfolk just don't see it the way I do -  so the house was looking dirty.

I fear what will happen when I'm gone.

Surfing the net one day, I saw Cleaning for a Reason mentioned again they now had partnered with Capital Cleaning, a family-owned business that uses all green products.  I applied and sure enough, they were able to come and clean my house.

They asked if I minded a film crew from TV coming to show what they can do.  I felt that if it will help another sick woman know this is out there, I'd be happy to let my messy house be shown.  

I get four free cleanings, of which one was that one. I'm going to try to schedule the rest before holidays, which will really ease my mind; it's always so stressful to have people come over when the house is messy.   They were so kind and understanding of the condition the house was in - they had a crew of three women cleaning and one who just spoke to me and told me her personal story.  They did a great job, and it was wonderful to wake up this morning and have a clean house.  I don't know if men really understand how a dirty house can cause stress in a woman - at least, my men don't.   I will probably try to convince my husband to hire them when my free ones are over.  It will be money well-spent and it really eases my mind to know that the house is clean.

If you are not sick but are looking for a housecleaning service in Sacramento, I can recommend Capital Cleaning.  They did a very good job.

Op-Ed in Sacramento Bee

I am very pleased to announce the the Bee printed an opinion piece by little 'ol me.  My regular readers will know how difficult it was for me to write something in a mere 750 words, but I managed.  My basic point?  Don't pink, donate marrow instead.

I want to remind everybody that the marrow donation for Kurt is tomorrow, Monday, from 2-7 at Mira Loma High School, 4000 Edison Avenue Sacramento.   I will definitely be there, at least at the beginning.  I don't promise to have the health or energy to stay until the end as I will have already had a very busy day.  Cleaning for a Reason will be coming to my house, and a TV film crew is supposed to film me as they clean.  This is very cool but it means getting up 3 hours earlier than I normally do.    I believe it will be on channel 10 for you locals.
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Also, did I forget to mention that iTriage did an interview with me?

There is your reading for the day.

Bedroom Remodel and Friendship

Me and my closest friend

One of the kindest things somebody has done for me was to help me remodel my bedroom. My bedroom, to say the least, was a mess. I once heard a decorator say that most people never do their bedroom - it's the place with all the leftover furniture, and a space where you throw all that old junk you don't know what to do with when you are picking up the house.

Mine was like that, only at some point years ago, I got it in my head that I should paint an "accent wall" a dark raisin color. Let's just say, it made a dark room even darker and there is a reason I didn't go into interior design. But I lived with it,  as a bedroom isn't a priority - nobody sees it.

Then, my oldest and dearest friend proposed a visit to see me, but not just any visit. She, who has electrical, construction, carpentry and design skills, was going to do a room makeover on that room.  She acknowledges what is hard to say: I likely will die in that room, and she wanted it to be a peaceful space for me.  And, she said she could do it in three days.

I wanted to see her and I really doubted we'd get any work done as it has been about a decade since we've managed to fly to each other's city, and there was a lot to catch up on in the short time I'm awake.   But it was fun to plan and dream. I set up a pinterest board with the style I wanted - Hollywood Glam. Because the room is so dark, I wanted to add lots of light and sparkle with mirrored furnishings, sheen on the bed, and crystal accents. And, because my husband's favorite color is purple, I decided that it would be the accent color. After all, he's going to have to live with it a lot longer than I will.

My friend came out and to my surprise - we worked! Actually, she and my oldest son and husband did most of the work, but I still managed to paint some trim. So, here are photos (testing the new panarama feature of the iPhone)  of the before and after on the bedroom.

Ugly raisin red colored back wall, fake brass bedrailing, red and gold colored bedding- some clutter is because we were moving things out and putting boxes in before the remodel, but also - it was cluttered.  

After.  gorgeous silver and mirrored furniture, bedding with plum, we spraypainted the headboard silver.!

Look at the panels she did on the wall, with wall paper that I painted purple.  The chair was a later find and now there are two of them, which is a story unto itself.  We spray painted an old chest of my husbands's and she put that fabric on it.

What you can't see is the crystal light fixture above the bed. It is just drops of crystal and she put it on a dimmer switch. At night, we leave it on the lowest setting and I look up and see beautiful firework colors. During the day, it throws light around in rainbows, just the way I'd hoped.

Because we were so successful, my friend found her passion. She is going to start a non-profit, fixing up rooms for the terminally ill. She will need to get materials and companies on board with her (I paid for the materials myself but she wants to do this for people for free or minimal costs), and I think it's a fantastic idea. (Her initial website is http://www.room4healing.blogspot.com.)  I find such beauty and peace every time I go in there.  It's clean and calm and pretty.  As soon as the non-profit is in place, I'll include it in my links of charities to give to.

In the meantime, I have the bedroom of my dreams, to match the friend of my life.

Me on NPR!

I was invited to be on NPR's Tell Me More radio program, with the topic being "Beyond the Pink." You can listen to me here:
http://www.npr.org/2012/10/22/163395083/going-beyond-the-pink-to-talk-breast-cancer

Me in the studio

Thanks to the other ladies I was interviewed with, the producer who found me,  and special thanks to Michel Martin who was very sensitive in her questions.  Of course, you can always "go there" with me.  :) Here is the bugs post that Michel mentioned.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Kurt Strong and your chance to help

I posted before about Kurt and his struggle.  Let me tell you about Kurt.  Not only is he my son's friend, but he's a very smart young man.  He is the kind of kid you meet and you go, "Wow, there is hope for this generation yet."  He is a good student, and he likes science, technology and soccer, but he's not perfect, he's a kid.  He also has fun.  He likes Facebook and YouTube and games, and the same things all 16 year old kids like.  But, he's been trapped in a hospital, in an illness - one that might kill him,  for well over a year now.  The good news, is somebody out there can fix it.

Let me tell you about his mom.  Despite a busy career, she was always first to volunteer for school things.  She brought in food for teachers, and gave her time and energy.  She did this even after Kurt was diagnosed, although she had to give up her career to take care of him full time.   She brought me a plate of delicious chocolate brownie goodie things, because I had cancer. While her son was sick.

Can you imagine his mom's worry?

A 16 year old boy is fighting for his life, and you have the power to save him.  It's in your hands.  You can give a mother her son back, and a son his life.   What an honor that would be.  That would be karma points enough to get you into heaven.

After my last post about him, many of you have said that you ordered marrow donation kits in honor of Kurt  and boy, do I thank you for that.   But now I'm asking for more.

First, like his page on facebook:

 https://www.facebook.com/KurtsArmy?fref=ts

His family finds comfort in religion so if you swing that way, send them your prayers.

Then, I'm calling on everybody in the Sacramento region age 18 and up to come to Mira Loma High School on Monday, October 29th to show your support.  From 2:00 to 7:00 pm, in the Library, we will be having a marrow drive to try to save this young man's life.

I will be there.  I am actually going to take off my PJs and get dressed. I'll up my pain meds if I have to, but I will volunteer.  I will do whatever is necessary, including swabbing cheeks or filling out paperwork.  I am, my friends, in pain these days. Halaven is causing my tumor to hurt - I can feel it in the liver; it's very weird.  I can't breathe well.  I'm tired.  I sleep, a lot.

You know what that means?  It means, your excuse is gone.

If I am going, you can't say "Oh, I'm too tired."  You aren't as tired as me.  Is it too far away?  No, it's not.  If I can go, you can too.  You can take off early from work, you can take a late lunch - surely you have done that for less.  State Workers, I'm talking to you.  I know there are lots of you who are Asian, and I know you have furlough days.  Why not take one on Monday?

You can go immediately after work; the event will go to 7:00 and if people are in line, we'll wait.  This isn't about time.  It's about saving somebody who has a long, productive life ahead of him.  Somebody who will do good in the world.

Have to get home and cook?  Here's a hint:  There is a Raley's grocery 1/4 mile away so you can stop, get swabbed, buy a bracelet to show support, hit the store for dinner, pop on the freeway,  and you are done. The take-out chickens are great.

The entire Mira Loma school community will be out in force to help, and I challenge you to join that community. Become a Matador and fight the Bullshit that is cancer.

It's easy.  They will swab your cheek.  No needles, no pain.  That's it.  Then I will give you a hug.   If you are Asian, I'll give you two. If you are Chinese, I will give you three!

There will be a shirt that you can sign that will be presented to Kurt, so he knows that everybody is pulling for him.  There will be bracelets for sale that go to the Leukemia Society (to help pay for all of this) and other things we are working on, including getting the press involved.  Do you hear that Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Connect, SacTown Magazine?  Time to put this in your publications, tweet it out,  and get the word out.  You have a responsibility to save a life too.

I realize most of my readers don't live in Sacramento.  But, maybe you have a friend who does.  Maybe a friend of a friend does.  You don't know who knows who and who lives where. The world is small.  I met a a person who became a friend in Chicago,  and it turns out her cousin used to sit next to me in the infusion room in CA.

So, share this post.  Like Kurt's page on Facebook.  Make sure your friends share too.

How many dumb things have I seen passed along on facebook?  A silly joke by George Takai can reach millions. A kitten jumping can get the world to smile.   So, why not this be the thing that goes across the nation?

Here is a minor hitch.  If you are over 44, you have to sign up (on site, we will have computers there) and pay $100.00.  That is to cover the costs.  Everybody 44 and under is free.   I'm guessing that since you can only donate until you are 61, they can't afford to sign everybody up for free.  Your donation time is lessened so you have to pay.  You know what?  Do it anyway. If you are 45 and of Chinese descent   $100.00 is nothing for this young man's life.  Alternatively, if you have $100.00 to give and are already on the registry, bring it by to pay for somebody else.

I'm warning you, this is going to turn into a nag.  I will blog this again and again.  And, my husband will attest, I'm a pretty damn fine nagger!

Bottom line:   My life will not be saved.  I want Kurt's to be saved in my place.  You can make that happen.

I will see you from 2:00 to 7:00 on October 28th at Mira Loma High School's Library.  The address is 4000 Edison Avenue, 95821.

I'll be the one in the scarf.

(You can still donate at home.  Read my previous post on how to do it, linked at the top)

Interview with me

The gals at Scarves Dot Net did a nice interview with me about my feelings about Pinktober.

Because of the item they sell, they wanted to get in on the Pink October stuff and possibly do scarf giveaways and the like.  The email I received said they wanted to, " incorporate ways to be more vocal for the month of October. We are currently working towards building a relationship with an organization where we can donate scarves to women in the midst of the battle. Also, many of our customers are victims of breast cancer and requested that we show them creative ways on how to tie head scarves.  Through working with them and being inspired to help raise attention, we were hoping to share personal stories so our audience could be as touched by as we have.  

I responded by reminding them that women get breast cancer and lose their hair all year long, and places like FranceLuxe manage to give breast cancer patients a free scarf whenever they need one, so that I hoped that the organization they worked with would take that into consideration.  I also said that my feelings about Pink might not be what they were used to.    They assured me that they were going to support breast cancer patients year round, not just for pink October and were interested in my thoughts.

They seem to mean it as they put the promise right above my interview.  

I'm holding them to it!

In my interview, I share my feelings about Pink and October and just generally what has happened to me over the past three years. There are also photos of me and my family.   And, then once you do read it, leave a comment and click around their website because it does have some great information.  People are always asking me about how I learned to tie all my scarves the way I do, and the reason is websites like these that give instructions.  It's been three years, but maybe I even learned from Scarves.net.  I always get compliments on my scarf tying.  Even when I don't need one, I still put them on for style.

I will be using some of their other examples, like using scarves on my shoes, now.  Maybe it will help me with the bug situation.

Thank you for the nice interview and a helpful website.